The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-09-01
- <--.sl.~IsII37--, =
CLOSING THE CIVIL. WAR.
The Last Charge Was on Brand

The Last Charge Was on Brandy
sBarrel and the Last Shot Was Over It.
The man who claims to have ordered
the last shot fired on the Confederate side
during tho late rnpleasantness is Mr..
A. B. Faircloth, of Camilla, Ga, q gentle
man rs modest as he is brave. The incl
dent was told us by Capt. D. II. Sanders,
an old comrade in arms Of Mr.. Faircloth,
and forms q unique feature in the I'M
written history of the great struggle. Mr..
Faircloth belonged to Company c, Second
Georgia cavalry.
Lee had surrendered. Johnston had
surrendered. Only Kirby Smith remained
at the head of armed resistance. The
Confederacy was in its death throes.
Wheeler determined not to surrender his
men, but to force his way across the coun-
try to join Smith west of the Mississippi.
To this end he procured the removal OF
his command from Johnston's army, and
started upon one of the most hazardous
retreats in the annals Of war. While
everywhere Confederate troops were
grounding their arms, taking the oatli Of
allegiance to the Unit. l States govern
ment and returning t. their homes, this
ASSs>ASA
fused to lower the stars and bars.
Wheeler's bold movement was kept
profound secret, known only to his own
men and Gen. Johnston. All thought that
,the,rwar was over. The Fedecals came.
freely into the lines of their late foes, and
ssthere was general intermingling of the
ssHblne and gray 1t fell to the lot of
Company C to guard Wheeler's rear. A
barrel Of brandy was discovered just inside
the reserve picket line, and those old
veterans, with true soldierly instinct, soon
tapped it and were fast getting into a
hilarious conditions: The lieutenant in
command of the picket guards was in
short time unable to distinguish a Con-
Sederate from q tYaik, " and was relieved
by Mr.. Fairclott; the orderly sergeant.
The aroma of that brandy was waited to-
the olfactories of the Union soldiers, and
soon troop of cavalry was seen coming
at headlong charge upon that barrel.
Sergt. Faircloth obeyed the orders. of
his chief, and the dashing squadron was
received with volley from their picket
line. They. were dl,mfounded, ,and with
out returning the fire showed white flag.
The sergeant advanced to parley with the
bearer of the flag of truce.
"What the deuce did you fire for9 Don't
you know the war is over2' This was
jerked out by the spokesman on the other
side.
: sI obcyed ORDERS, calmly replied the
sergeant. mo troops can pass my line"
But. man, Johnston has surrendered,
and the war is over. Come, let us pass,
we want to taste that brandy over there. u,
81 must carry out my ORDERS" stoutly
maintained Sergt. Faircloth, "and if your
men advance they will be fired upon.
But" he added, II am expecting orders
calling to my men every minute, anG if
you will wait perhaps you may get o drop
of the brandy.''
Strange to say the troop waited, and
the order. came. Then there was grand
rush for the barrel-when "Johnny Rebf'
and "Yank'' got on q drunk together.
This was the last shot fired in the late
war, and the incident, now published for
the first time, will be read with interest
by those who participated in the novel
scene, as well as the general public. To
complete the story-it only remains to tell
that, acting under the advice of Johnston,
Wheeler gave over his daring attempt,
and, turning over his men to the brigade,
regimental and company commanders to
act as they saw fit, gathered about him O
few bold spirits, and started to join the
head of the Confcderacy in his effort to
escape his pursuers. = Greensboro Herald.